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Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating
 A Core Reading Program

 

CATHY PUETT MILLER

2740 Woodridge Chase, Canton, GA  30114

Phone:  770-345-3001 or 770-365-4733

email:  cathypmiller@starband.net


 

November 30, 2003

To Whom It May Concern:

 

Dr. Cindy Cupp, publisher of Dr. Cupp Readers®, has asked me to forward this compilation of multiple independent evaluations of her materials.  The evaluations were accomplished using the Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating A Core Reading Program.  National evaluators use the Consumer’s Guide as a framework for judging the strength of each Reading First application.  This Consumer’s Guide provides evaluations for each of the essential elements of beginning reading instruction (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension as defined by the National Reading Panel) plus an overall design feature evaluation.

 

The independent reviewers included Lisa Cox, Laura Harrell, Kathy Holland, Haley Remillard and Beth Usry.  Their individual biographies and contact information are attached. 

 

Also attached are the following documents:

 

Cover Page:  Classification of Program Details

Consumer’s Guide Cumulative Summary Page Combining Results of All Reviewers - K

Consumer’s Guide Cumulative Summary of Design Features Combining Results of  All Reviewers – K

Consumer’s Guide Cumulative Summary Page Combining Results fro All Reviewers – 1st grade

Consumer’s Guide Cumulative Summary of Design Features for All Reviewers – 1st grade

Consumer’s Guide Individual Summary Pages showing each reviewers’ evaluation (for K and first grade as applicable)

Consumer’s Guide Individual Summary of Design Features for each reviewer (for K and first grade as applicable)

Four-Page Summary of Recent Independent Research on Dr. Cupp Readers®*

 

* This independent research summary is currently being considered for publication by the GA Journal of Reading

                                                                        Sincerely,

 

 

                                                                    Cathy Puett Miller

                                                            Independent Children’s Literacy Consultant
 


 

Individual Biographies of Reviewers and Contact Information:

 

Lisa Cox is a first grade EIP reading teacher at Brooklet Elementary School in Brooklet, Georgia.  She is the current Brooklet Elementary School 2003 Teacher of the Year and was nominated as Bulloch County’s 2004 Teacher of the Year.  She was one of eleven educators who served on the GA Language Arts Adoption Committee and has traveled to England as part of GA Southern University’s International Learning Committee.

Contact Info:  Brooklet Elementary School, Brooklet, GA – Phone:  912-842-2735

----------------------------------------------------

 

Laura Harrell has taught elementary school (K-3) for the last fifteen years.  She also worked in the GA Department of Education’s Reading Department/School Improvement area for four years.  Ms. Harrell holds a Specialist Degree in Administration.

 

Contact Info:  Cartersville Primary School,  Cartersville City Schools, Bartow County 

Email address:  buraharrell@msn.com

----------------------------------------------------

Kathy Holland has a Bachelor’s degree in Mental Retardation, a Master’s degree in Learning Disabilities and a Specialist degree in Early Childhood.  During her 24 years of teaching she has taught special education-resource and self-contained first, second, fourth and fifth grades, REP and EIP (since that program began in GA) and also first grade early intervention in which she provided one-on-one instruction for 30 minutes each day to first graders needing additional support in reading. 

 

Contact Info:  Sara Minter Elementary School, Fayette County, Georgia

School phone  770-716-3910       Email address:  Holland.Kathy@fcboe.org

----------------------------------------------------

 

Haley Remillard is currently employed with Homewood City Schools in Alabama.  She teaches kindergarten at Edgewood Elementary in Birmingham and has used Dr. Cupp Readers® in her classroom for the past two and one half years.  In 2002, she was identified as the first year teacher with the highest DIBELS scores in the system and she attributes those scores to the impact of Dr. Cupp ReadersTM as her chosen curriculum.

 

Contact Info:  Edgewood Elementary School, Birmingham, AL – hremilla@homewood.k12.al.us

                        Phone:  205-423-2400

-------------------------------------------------------

 

Beth Usry is a first grade teacher with 29 years of experience with the Columbia County School System.  Ms. Usry received her BS Ed in Early Childhood Education, her Masters in Education from Georgia Southern University, and is certified as a TSS (Teacher Support Specialist).

 

Contact Info:  SCHOOL – North Harlem Elementary, Harlem, GA - busry@ccboe.net -

Phone:  706-556-5995

 


 

 

CLASSIFICATION OF PROGRAM                                   Critical Elements Analysis

 

Program Name:  Dr. Cupp Readers®                      Date of Publication:  2003 

 

Publisher:  Cupp Publications, Inc.                             

 

 

The program meets the following criteria for a comprehensive program and will be evaluated using the Consumer’s Guide. 

 

Includes comprehensive materials for K-1

 

Provides instruction in each of the critical elements:

 

            Phonemic Awareness

            Phonics

            Fluency

            Vocabulary

            Comprehension

 

This program also meets criteria for a supplemental or intervention program.
Program: ____Dr. Cupp Readers®_                  Grade Level: Kindergarten

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

High Priority Items

 

Discretionary Items

Phonemic Awareness

 

98%

97%

Phonics

 

99%

98%

Fluency

 

Not requested in detail of K

Evaluation forms                    

Vocabulary

 

96%

92%

Comprehension

 

78%

73%

Totals

 

93%

85%

 

 



Overall Program Summary

 

Strengths:   Fluency is an unexpected yet powerful portion of Dr. Cupp Readers®.   Because of the cumulative sight vocabulary, students become fluent readers in Kindergarten.  Fluency in turn leads to a higher comprehension level and sets habits and patterns for fluency early.  There is a strong emphasis on fluency components in all areas of language arts: reading, speaking, writing and listening. 

 

Auditory cues and movement are linked to consonant and vowel sounds in a very unique and effective way.  The Hop’n Pop game is highly motivating and a most unique program for introducing and reinforcing sight words.  It provides an enormous amount of repetition without becoming monotonous. The AlphaMotion® cards have allowed students to develop phonemic awareness and phonological awareness earlier in the year than students taught with other programs.  Skills are presented in a highly systematic way.  Extensive practice and review are an integral part of this program as are high interest activities.  High utility letter sounds are introduced early. The parent component gives questions for the parent to discuss at home.  Familiar stories and fairy tales are incorporated into the Dr. Cupp stories. 

 

Weaknesses: - The Read Aloud List is only provided as a reference list and is not provided in the program.  Therefore a teacher is limited to what materials are provided at her school. 

The words “it” and “is”, “the” and “this” are introduced in the same story.  Being introduced in the same story has repeatedly made these words hard for EIP students to grasp.  These are the only pairs my EIP students have consistently struggled with.  Being that these are only 4 words out of 115 in the Kindergarten level, I really think the strength of the program outweighs this concern.

 

(continued on next page)

Implications:

 

Students are highly motivated while using this program.  Teachers find a comprehensive, well-rounded approach to teaching language arts in the early grades.  This program also has a “painless” form of sight word instruction and provides for every level of learner with a highly individualized approach. The game format is appealing to even the slowest learner and students. set the pace.  Students are able to integrate new vocabulary and learn to ask the question: “Does this make sense?”  Students are reading fluently earlier than with other programs.

 



Program: __Dr. Cupp Readers®_____  Grade Level: Kindergarten

 

Design Features

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

Design Features

 

Average Rating

Criterion

 
 

2

1. Coordinates and integrates phonemic awareness and phonics instruction and student materials.

 

2        

2. Provides ample practice on high-priority skills.

 

2

3. Provides explicit and systematic instruction.

 

2

4. Includes systematic and cumulative review of high priority skills.

 

1.75

5. Demonstrates and builds relationships between fundamental skills leading to higher order skills.

 

9.75/10 =

98%

 

 

StrengthsTen Minute Phonics™, the phonics component, meets all modalities for individual students.  Ample opportunities for extensive practice and repetition needed by many students are given and the instruction is explicit and systematic.  Additionally the opportunities for review and assessment are systematic and cumulative.  The materials and teacher’s manual are teacher-friendly.  The program offers success to emergent readers as well as independent readers.  It is highly individualized and highly motivating.  The characters are memorable.  The AlphaMotion® Cards combine the introduction and practice of associating sound and movement in a unique, effective way.  Comprehension skills are taught very early in this program and the materials are presented in such a way that emergent readers can successfully comprehend from the start. Comprehension questions are provided with each story.  Students are able to answer multiple choice questions by marking in the “bubbles” which helps them prepare for standardized testing without having to introduce specific practice for that (helps with the yearly GA CRCT test).

 

WeaknessesThe manual does not give specific questions to ask (although this could also be considered a strength for teachers to be creative). 

 

The teacher’s guide, Part I, doesn’t offer specific strategies for teaching story structure. 

 

Retelling and open-ended questions that require analytical thinking and reasoning could be stronger.

 

ImplicationsStudents score higher on DIBELS and other assessments.  This program is a must for any kindergarten teacher who wants to make reading instruction fun while offering success for ALL participants.  It is a complete program.  Teachers who use this program will no longer need to supplement their reading curriculum.
Program: _Dr. Cupp Readers®_____  Grade Level: First Grade

 

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

 

High Priority Items

 

Discretionary Items

Phonemic Awareness

 

100%

100%

Phonics

 

100%

100%

Fluency

 

98%

100%

Vocabulary

 

90%

98%

Comprehension

 

73%

88%

Totals

 

92%

97%

 

 

Overall Program Summary

 

 

StrengthsWell-balanced program with extensive practice of vocabulary and phonics skills available.  This allows each student to achieve rapid success.  All students can be successful and all students can read. 

 

Auditory cues and movement are linked to consonant and vowel sounds.  Readiness activities are appropriate and easily built upon.  Beginning phonics instruction – cvc words – culminates with multi-syllable complex words.  Scripted lessons that teach the process of decoding words are helpful.  A tremendous amount of repetition is provided. 

 

Text is provided for students even in Story 1.   Time is allocated daily to blending, segmenting and manipulating tasks; the program works with increasingly longer words. 

 

Manual space is not wasted on listing the obvious questions in regards to story structure but instead emphasis is placed on higher order thinking questions.  Critical comprehension strategies are one of the strengths.

 

 Implications:  Highly motivating.  Systematic and explicit phonics instruction.  Teacher friendly.  Students will successfully read new text.  Well-rounded approach to fluency instruction.  The stories cause children to THINK.

 



 

Program: ___Dr. Cupp Readers®___      Grade Level: First Grade

 

Design Features

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

Design Features

 

Average Rating

Criterion

 
 

2

1. Aligns and coordinates the words used in phonics/word recognition activities with those used in fluency building.

 

 2

2. Provides ample practice on high-priority skills.

 

2

3. Provides explicit and systematic instruction.

 

2

4. Includes systematic and cumulative review of high priority skills.

 

2

5. Demonstrates and builds relationships between fundamental skills leading to higher order skills.

 

10/10 =

100%

 

 

StrengthsBuilds fluency from the first story.  Provides ample, fun practice and a systematic and explicit approach to review and instruction, especially in the area of phonics.  Also provides ample repetition that many students need to be successful.  Emergent readers as well as independent readers are motivated, and the instruction is individualized.  The characters are unique and memorable which helps students with comprehension. 

 

The AlphaMotion® cards combine letter/sound recognition with movement for easy memory retrieval.  This is an excellent program for teaching students at all levels of learning.   All decodable text contains the phonics elements that students have been taught.  Sight words are cumulative and are only included in the text after they have been taught.

 

This program does a wonderful job of integrating vocabulary words into sentences.  The earlier books introduce 4 new words per booklet and increase up to 7.  Unique and extremely motivating games encourage sight word practice.  The teacher’s manual includes a very impress­ive list of Read Aloud stories from multiple genres, coded to go with each story. 

 

Part II is very strong in higher order thinking questioning.  The stories in Part I and II include familiar vocabulary.  The stories are structured and explicit and offer comparisons to other stories.

 

Weaknesses: - Narrative and expository text is only addressed in the Read Aloud portion.

(continued on next page)

Implications: Skills carry over to reading other texts.  After serving on the GA Language Arts Textbook Adoption Committee, I have seen many reading programs.  This program of reading instruction is one of the finest I have ever evaluated.  Perhaps its greatest value is that reading teachers using it no longer need to supplement reading instruction.  Dr. Cupp Readers® is a complete program.  Students continue to want to participate in the games and activities. 

 

  


 

Reviewer #1:

 

Program: __Dr. Cupp Readers®___                Grade Level: Kindergarten

 

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

 

High Priority Items

 

Discretionary Items

Phonemic Awareness

 

100%

100%

Phonics

 

100%

100%

Fluency

 

Not requested in detail of K

Evaluation forms                    

Vocabulary

 

100%

100%

Comprehension

 

81%

91%

Totals

 

95%

98%

 

 

Overall Program Summary

 

 

Strengths: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weaknessessee summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implications:  see summary pages for individual comments


 

Reviewer #1:

 

Program: ____Dr. Cupp Readers®___      Grade Level: Kindergarten

 

Design Features

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

Design Features

 

Rating

Criterion

 
 

2

1. Coordinates and integrates phonemic awareness and phonics instruction and student materials.

 

 2       

2. Provides ample practice on high-priority skills.

 

2

3. Provides explicit and systematic instruction.

 

2

4. Includes systematic and cumulative review of high priority skills.

 

2

5. Demonstrates and builds relationships between fundamental skills leading to higher order skills.

 

10/10 =

100%

 

 

Strengths: This program provides ample opportunity for extensive repetition that many learners require and it is extremely teacher-friendly.  Phonics is taught systematically and explicitly.  Reviews are also systematic and cumulative.  This program offers success to emergent readers as well as independent readers and is highly individualized to fit each student’s needs and motivate each child to succeed.  The characters in Dr. Cupp’s stories are memorable and unique and character education guidelines from GA’s state requirements are woven into the stories.  The AlphaMotion® cards combine sound and movement for easy retrieval and retention of the letters/sounds.

 

 

Weaknesses:

 

Doesn’t provide strategies for teaching story structure in the teacher’s guide.

 

 

 

Implications:  This program is a must for any Kindergarten teacher who wants to make reading instruction fun while offering success for every student.  It is a complete program.  Teachers who use this program will no longer need to supplement their reading program.

 

 


 

Reviewer #2:

 

Program: __Dr. Cupp Readers®___                Grade Level: Kindergarten

 

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

 

High Priority Items

 

Discretionary Items

Phonemic Awareness

 

100%

100%

Phonics

 

100%

92%

Fluency

 

Not requested in detail of K

Evaluation forms                    

Vocabulary

 

100%

83%

Comprehension

 

63%

67%

Totals

 

91%

86%

 

 

Overall Program Summary

 

 

Strengthssee summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weaknesses: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implications: see summary pages for individual comments


 

Reviewer #2:

 

Program: ____Dr. Cupp Readers®___      Grade Level: Kindergarten

 

Design Features

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

Design Features

 

Rating

Criterion

 
 

2

1. Coordinates and integrates phonemic awareness and phonics instruction and student materials.

 

 2       

2. Provides ample practice on high-priority skills.

 

2

3. Provides explicit and systematic instruction.

 

2

4. Includes systematic and cumulative review of high priority skills.

 

1

5. Demonstrates and builds relationships between fundamental skills leading to higher order skills.

 

9/10 =

90%

 

 

StrengthsThe Readiness Manual was an important addition to this overall program as it provides many strategies to use in developing phonemic awareness.  With the first story and each subsequent one, students are encouraged to read, comprehend and practice fluency immediately.  All instruction is explicit and systematic.  The cumulative approach used in Dr. Cupp Readers® allows students to build on earlier skills as they move into more complex and varied text.

 

Weaknesses:

 

 

 

 

Implications:  

 


Reviewer #3:

 

Program: __Dr. Cupp Readers®___                Grade Level: Kindergarten

 

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

 

High Priority Items

 

Discretionary Items

Phonemic Awareness

 

90%

88%

Phonics

 

96%

100%

Fluency

 

Not requested in detail of K

Evaluation forms                    

Vocabulary

 

83%

83%

Comprehension

 

88%

67%

Totals

 

90%

85%

 

 

Overall Program Summary

 

 

StrengthsFluency is one of the unexpected benefits of this program.  Although it is not required that we evaluate fluency for kindergarten programs, the cumulative sight word approach helps establish fluency early, and students do not hesitate on words.  This leads to a higher comprehension level.

 

 

 

 

 

Weaknesses: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

Implications: see summary pages for individual comments

 

Reviewer #3:

 

Program: ____Dr. Cupp Readers®___      Grade Level: Kindergarten

 

Design Features

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

Design Features

 

Rating

Criterion

 
 

2

1. Coordinates and integrates phonemic awareness and phonics instruction and student materials.

 

 2       

2. Provides ample practice on high-priority skills.

 

2

3. Provides explicit and systematic instruction.

 

2

4. Includes systematic and cumulative review of high priority skills.

 

2

5. Demonstrates and builds relationships between fundamental skills leading to higher order skills.

 

10/10 =

100%

 

 

Strengths:   Ten Minutes Phonics™ meets all modalities of individual students and allows for individualized instruction in small group situations.

 

Weaknesses:

 

 

 

 

Implications:  Students score higher on DIBELS assessments and other evaluation tools.


 


Reviewer #4:

 

Program: __Dr. Cupp Readers®___                Grade Level: Kindergarten

 

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

 

High Priority Items

 

Discretionary Items

Phonemic Awareness

 

100%

100%

Phonics

 

100%

100%

Fluency

 

Not requested in detail of K

Evaluation forms                    

Vocabulary

 

100%

100%

Comprehension

 

81%

67%

Totals

 

95%

92%

 

 

Overall Program Summary

 

 

Strengths: Skills are presented in a systematic way.  Extensive practice and review are a part of the program.  The activities are high interest, and there is a strong emphasis on fluency.  This program has components in all the areas of language arts:  reading, speaking, writing and listening.

 

 

Weaknesses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implications:  Highly motivating, well rounded.


 

Reviewer #4:

 

Program: ____Dr. Cupp Readers®___      Grade Level: Kindergarten

 

Design Features

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

Design Features

 

Rating

Criterion

 
 

2

1. Coordinates and integrates phonemic awareness and phonics instruction and student materials.

 

 2       

2. Provides ample practice on high-priority skills.

 

2

3. Provides explicit and systematic instruction.

 

2

4. Includes systematic and cumulative review of high priority skills.

 

2

5. Demonstrates and builds relationships between fundamental skills leading to higher order skills.

 

10/10 =

100%

 

 

Strengths: This program gives ample and fun practice.  It has systematic and explicit review and instruction.  It also has a systematic and cumulative plan for review.

 

Weaknesses:

 

 

 

 

Implications:  

 


Reviewer #1:

 

Program: __Dr. Cupp Readers®__                  Grade Level: First Grade

 

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

 

High Priority Items

 

Discretionary Items

Phonemic Awareness

 

100%

100%

Phonics

 

100%

100%

Fluency

 

96%

100%

Vocabulary

 

100%

100%

Comprehension

 

75%

100%

Totals

 

94%

100%

 

 

Overall Program Summary

 

 

Strengths: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weaknesses: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implications: see summary pages for individual comments

 

Reviewer #1:

 

Program:  Dr. Cupp Readers®_____            Grade Level: First Grade

 

Design Features

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

Design Features

 

Rating

Criterion

 
 

2

1. Aligns and coordinates the words used in phonics/word recognition activities with those used in fluency building.

 

 2       

2. Provides ample practice on high-priority skills.

 

2

3. Provides explicit and systematic instruction.

 

2

4. Includes systematic and cumulative review of high priority skills.

 

2

5. Demonstrates and builds relationships between fundamental skills leading to higher order skills.

 

10/10 =

100%

 

 

Strengths:  Provides ample opportunity for extensive repetition that many learners require.  This program is very teacher-friendly.  Phonics is taught systematically and explicitly.  Reviews are also systematic and cumulative.  This program offers success to emergent readers as well as independent readers.  It is highly individualized and motivating.  The characters in her stories are unique and memorable and follow through from story to story as the stories lengthen and become chapters in an on-going tale.  The AlphaMotion® cards combine sound and movement for easy retrieval.

 

 

Weaknesses:

 

 

 

 

Implications: This program of reading instruction is one of the finest I have ever evaluated.  After serving on the GA Language Arts Textbook Adoption Committee, I have seen many.  Perhaps the greatest strength of this program is that reading teachers will no longer need to supplement their reading instruction if using this program.  It is truly a complete reading program.

 



Review #2:

Program: __Dr. Cupp Readers®_____  Grade Level: First Grade

 

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

 

High Priority Items

 

Discretionary Items

Phonemic Awareness

 

100%

100%

Phonics

 

100%

100%

Fluency

 

96%

100%

Vocabulary

 

58%

92%

Comprehension

 

42%

50%

Totals

 

79%

88%

 

 

Overall Program Summary

 

 

Strengths: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weaknesses: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implications: see summary pages for individual comments

 


 

Reviewer #2:

Program: __Dr. Cupp Readers®____    Grade Level: First Grade

 

Design Features

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

Design Features

 

Rating

Criterion

 
 

2

1. Aligns and coordinates the words used in phonics/word recognition activities with those used in fluency building.

 

 2       

2. Provides ample practice on high-priority skills.

 

2

3. Provides explicit and systematic instruction.

 

2

4. Includes systematic and cumulative review of high priority skills.

 

2

5. Demonstrates and builds relationships between fundamental skills leading to higher order skills.

 

10/10 =

100%

 

 

Strengths: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weaknesses: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implications: see summary pages for individual comments

 


 

Reviewer #3:

Program: ___Dr. Cupp Readers®__                  Grade Level: First Grade

 

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

 

High Priority Items

 

Discretionary Items

Phonemic Awareness

 

100%

100%

Phonics

 

100%

100%

Fluency

 

100%

100%

Vocabulary

 

100%

100%

Comprehension

 

75%

100%

Totals

 

95%

100%

 

 

Overall Program Summary

 

 

Strengths: Excellent program in which all students can be successful.  All students are readers when using this program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weaknesses: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implications: see summary pages for individual comments

 


 

Reviewer #3:

Program:   Dr. Cupp Readers®                                Grade Level: First Grade

 

Design Features

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

Design Features

 

Rating

Criterion

 
 

2

1. Aligns and coordinates the words used in phonics/word recognition activities with those used in fluency building.

 

 2       

2. Provides ample practice on high-priority skills.

 

2

3. Provides explicit and systematic instruction.

 

2

4. Includes systematic and cumulative review of high priority skills.

 

2

5. Demonstrates and builds relationships between fundamental skills leading to higher order skills.

 

10/10 =

100%

 

 

Strengths:  Excellent program for teaching students at all levels of learning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weaknesses: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implications: see summary pages for individual comments

 


 

Reviewer #4:

Program: _Dr. Cupp Readers®____              Grade Level: First Grade

 

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

 

High Priority Items

 

Discretionary Items

Phonemic Awareness

 

100%

100%

Phonics

 

100%

100%

Fluency

 

100%

100%

Vocabulary

 

100%

100%

Comprehension

 

100%

100%

Totals

 

100%

100%

 

 

Overall Program Summary

 

 

Strengths:  This program is well balanced.  It gives extensive practice of vocabulary and phonics skills allowing the student to achieve rapid success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weaknesses: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implications: see summary pages for individual comments

 


 

Reviewer #4:

Program: _Dr. Cupp Readers®                Grade Level:  First Grade

Design Features

 

Consumer’s Guide to Evaluating a Core Reading Program (IDEA, 2003)

 

Design Features

 

Rating

Criterion

 
 

2

1. Aligns and coordinates the words used in phonics/word recognition activities with those used in fluency building.

 

 2       

2. Provides ample practice on high-priority skills.

 

2

3. Provides explicit and systematic instruction.

 

2

4. Includes systematic and cumulative review of high priority skills.

 

2

5. Demonstrates and builds relationships between fundamental skills leading to higher order skills.

 

10/10 =

100%

 

 

StrengthsThis program builds fluency and gives ample and fun practice.  It has a systematic and explicit approach to review and instruction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weaknesses: see summary pages for individual comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

ImplicationsSkills carry over to reading other texts.

 


 

A RESEARCH SYNOPSIS:

 THE DR. CUPP READERS® AND TEN MINUTE PHONICSTM

Prepared by Cathy Puett Miller, Independent Literacy Consultant, June, 2003

 

Over the past three years, educators across Georgia have used the Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM as a core reading program. Whether working with beginning readers in the general K-1 classroom or addressing the special needs of EIP, ESL and special education children, positive user comments are common:

 

My students excelled because the program provided the explicit instruction and repetition they needed.  They were very motivated to read.  I have taught for thirteen years and this is the best reading program I have encountered so far.  I get results.

 

The Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM demonstrate consistent student improve­ment as measured by formal and informal testing instruments.  Since January of 2002, the effectiveness of these pro­ducts have been verified with the addition of more formalized review and proof in practice.  Research con­tinues to accumulate as surveys are conducted and scores from standardized tests and assessments commonly used by Georgia educators are evaluated.  Classroom observations, in-depth educator interviews and multi-year assessments triangulate with other methods of data collection to provide a complete picture.  In 2002, the state of Georgia officially adopted Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM as a curriculum for beginning (K-1) language arts and EIP classrooms beyond that level.  In addition, Jenkins County Elementary, a Georgia school participating in the Reading Excellence Act Grant has received favorable comments on the progress shown with their kindergarten and first grade classes after exclusively using Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM as their sole curriculum.

 

Both the Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM are grounded in scienti­fic­ally based research identified by such sources as the National Reading Panel’s Teaching Children to Read, The Handbook of Reading Research (Kamil, et al), Preventing Early Reading Difficulties in Young Children (Snow, et al), Put Reading First (U.S. Depart­ment of Education), What Research Has to Say About Reading Instruction (Samuels and Farstrup) and the Reading Research Quarterly. It also includes elements verified by cognitive and behavioral psychologists and educators. 

 

Concepts integrated into the Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM are endorsed by such literacy advocates as the Interna­tional Reading Association, the National Center for Family Literacy, the National Council of English Teachers, and the National Institute of Liter­acy. The Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM repre­sent proven methods for moving students toward mastery of the basic literacy ele­ments needed to competently comprehend text. 

 

The basic premise of the Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM is that all children can be readersThese materials are grounded in the idea that children become successful readers when they have explicit, systematic instruction, paced to encourage mastery of every step.  In study after study, the same themes and elements are proven to be successful, positive approaches to literacy development among beginning and struggling readers.  Those elements are perhaps best summarized in the National Reading Panel’s list of comprehensive reading program components. Below are “learning to read” essentials from the National Reading Panel compared to elements of the Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM:

 

            U.S. Dept of Education                    Dr. Cupp Readers®/

     Key Reform Areas for Classroom                 Ten Minute PhonicsTM Basis

 

Phonemic awareness      ]                            Phonemic awareness

Phonics                           ]                            Phonics

Fluency                          ]                            Oral fluency

Vocabulary                     ]                            Spelling & vocabulary

Comprehension              ]                            Comprehension

Motivation                     ]                            Writing & communication

                                                                                   Homework & parent interaction

                                                                        Assessment & study skills

 

This year, a group of researchers, including Gregory Camilli from the National Institute for Early Education Research and Rutgers University, re-examined findings of the National Reading Panel (NRP). In addition to echoing the NRP’s case for systematic phonics instruction, this study empha­­sizes the importance of a com­prehensive reading program that also includes a focus on phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.  This broad pattern of com­po­nents repeatedly appears in mainstream research and confirms the approach of the Dr. Cupp ReadersTM and Ten Minute PhonicsTM

 

Kindergarten teachers interviewed as part of the research survey indicate that, after a short time with the “pre-Dr. Cupp Readers Word House concepts” [teaching letter recog­nition and alphabetic/phonemic awareness], many students can begin to read at once with Dr. Cupp’s first story (only containing four distinct words).  One educator noted: 

 

Because the phonics component begins in the first story, children develop the capacity to read right away.  They begin to read words in real stories and are rewarded when they practice fluency.  The first lesson also starts them off answering questions about the stories, to get them thinking about what they read and comprehending from the start.

 

Well-designed, controlled comparisons of instructional approaches have consistently supported the following components of effective reading instruction:

 

§         Direct teaching of decoding, comprehension, and literature appreciation

Again, all of these components appear in the Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM.  By combining the controlled, sequential introduction to phonics skills and sight words, with exposure to real literature via the Recommended Read Aloud Booklist (Hop N Pop’s Favorite Read Alouds and Miss O’s Favorite Read Alouds), a compre­hen­sive, daily introduction and reinforcement occurs.  Daily practice in key areas allows stu­dents’ exposure to group and individual practice, both in reading and in writing.  Especially in the second series of books (31-60), teachers scaffold students into more complex vocabulary as they discuss the more challenging concepts of the Dr. Cupp Readers® stories.

 

 


 

RESULTS

 

The versatility of the Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minutes Phonics TM provides teachers with tools they say are critical to every child becoming a reader.

 

On average, since 2000,

86% of users gave it a high overall rating

53% rated it the highest possible,

33% ranking it at the second highest level

 

The most recent survey (2002-2003 school year) revealed a continuation of this trend:  the majority of teachers (85%) who use Dr. Cupp’s materials give them a high overall rating (54% rated it the highest possible, with another 31% rating it at the second highest). 

 

Sight words, oral fluency and phonics remain the strongest components according to survey participants.  During the survey and individual interviews conducted as an extension, teachers repeatedly confirm the impact of the Dr. Cupp Readers ® and Ten Minute Phonics TM on students. 

 

Eighty-four percent of those surveyed specifically identify an improvement in their student’s attitude toward reading as a by-product of these instruction tools.  A full 32% point to the Dr. Cupp Readers ® and Ten Minute Phonics TM as the primary reason for a reduction in numbers of students not meeting state and national standards.  In addition, thirteen percent identify these products as key factors in improving student behavior because of the emphasis on character education and the strong motivational element incorporated into the Dr. Cupp ReadersTM.

 

Based on the user surveys, there seems to be no discernable distinction between the effectiveness of the program in the regular K-1 classroom and its use in situations requiring specific remedial instruction such as early intervention classrooms.  Although students’ rates of improvement differ according to their abilities and potential, few students (only 7 out of every 100) fail to move forward in reading skills while exposed to these products.  Educators from a variety of circumstances corroborate this in comments shared during interviews and via students’ test scores.

 

Although the majority of schools participating in this year’s research used the Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM for two years or less, it is worth noting that, among those schools using her materials longer, assessment shows continued student achievement.  Since test vehicles used in individual schools have changed so frequently over the past few years in Georgia, it is impossible to compare statistical results from year to year in a volume sufficient to verify results.  However, evaluation of these on an annual basis, along with those using similar assessment tools, continues to show proportional improvement.

 

The overall picture from a test-score perspective shows good and, in some cases, marked improvement.  Not only are average students responding but those at either end of the special needs spectrum (gifted and remedial) respond well to its individualized instruction techniques.  A summary of results from over 44 classrooms and over 1,000 students is available upon request.

 

CLOSING

According to creator Dr. Cindy Cupp, the Dr. Cupp Readers® and Ten Minute PhonicsTM began in Georgia as an effort to equip teachers with a controlled systematic intro­duc­tion to proven elements in reading instruction.  Her materials are built upon a foundation of classroom experience and research, proven in hundreds of classrooms over the past three years.  This versatile curriculum finds offers a comprehensive, user friendly program with the ability to be easily adapted to a wide range of students.

 

Cathy Puett Miller, Independent Literacy Consultant

770-345-3001     

CathyPMiller@starband.net

@2003 Cindy Cupp and Associates.  All rights  reserved. 

 

Cindy Cupp and Associates, Inc.

52 Wylly Avenue

Savannah, Georgia  31406  Office phone   912  691-2434

Fax  912  691-1449   

cindycupp@mindspring.com

The aforelisted article, A RESEARCH SYNOPSIS:  THE DR. CUPP READERS® AND TEN MINUTE PHONICSTM  is currently under consideration for publication in the Georgia Journal of Reading.